1/ Some thoughts on China, US, and decentralized tech👇
Startup strategy 101: To win, focus on dimensions where your opponent is structurally unable to compete.
America should compete against China on privacy, censorship resistance, and other properties of decentralized systems
Startup strategy 101: To win, focus on dimensions where your opponent is structurally unable to compete.
America should compete against China on privacy, censorship resistance, and other properties of decentralized systems
2/ Centralized investments are *economic defense* for the US -- necessary to not lose.
We should invest heavily in AI, better payment systems, self driving cars, smart manufacturing, etc. But these benefit from centralization, scale, and govt intervention, e.g. tariffs
We should invest heavily in AI, better payment systems, self driving cars, smart manufacturing, etc. But these benefit from centralization, scale, and govt intervention, e.g. tariffs
3/ Decentralized ecosystems are our *economic offense.*
Their unique properties -- privacy, censorship resistance, freedom of choice -- are precisely the properties of technology the Chinese Govt will not embrace. And they are precisely the concepts on which America was founded.
Their unique properties -- privacy, censorship resistance, freedom of choice -- are precisely the properties of technology the Chinese Govt will not embrace. And they are precisely the concepts on which America was founded.
4/ Decentralized ecosystems make government uneasy today in the same way Democracy and Capitalism did 100 years ago. Empowering people with privacy and freedom, and trusting in the emergent behavior of individuals requires giving up control. And that is scary.
5/ The US Govt should not shy away from decentralized systems out of fear.
Decentralized systems and privacy preserving technologies are our greatest assets.
The US Govt should embrace them and help manifest our founding principles through software.
Decentralized systems and privacy preserving technologies are our greatest assets.
The US Govt should embrace them and help manifest our founding principles through software.
6/ If we compete on centralization and scale, we will likely end tied -- carving up the world in to alliances based on industrial economics and military force.
We will likely have sacrificed our principles for this hard fought stalemate.
We will likely have sacrificed our principles for this hard fought stalemate.
7/ If we compete on the dimensions where the Chinese Govt cannot, we will win.
We can offer the world an alternative: an economic system built on software aligned with our principles of privacy, freedom of speech, individual economic freedom, etc.
We can offer the world an alternative: an economic system built on software aligned with our principles of privacy, freedom of speech, individual economic freedom, etc.
8/ This is not to say that decentralization is a software panacea. Many problems should be solved through centralized efforts.
However, in the case of China, it is increasingly clear to me that the most likely path to victory is embracing privacy, freedom, and decentralization
However, in the case of China, it is increasingly clear to me that the most likely path to victory is embracing privacy, freedom, and decentralization
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